Former England captain Nasser Hussain said that England’s top three batters maintained a perfect tempo during their win over Bangladesh in the 2023 World Cup game on Tuesday. Hussain also added that Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, and Joe Root played orthodox shots instead of slogging them as well. However, England bounced back in style from their loss to New Zealand with a 137-run victory over Bangladesh in Dharamshala. Malan hit a stunning 140, while Bairstow and Root hit the fifties and guided the team to 364 in 50 overs.
In his column for The Daily Mail, the veteran wrote: “I thought the England top three got their tempo absolutely spot on here in Dharamshala. Without really slogging at any stage, Bairstow, Malan and Root were exceptional, playing proper cricket shots. And it set up the bounce-back win that England needed after defeat to New Zealand.”
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Nasser Hussain was also impressed by Reece Topley and the way he made the ball talk and praised Jos Buttler for backing Chris Woakes as well. However, Topley, who replaced Moeen Ali in the line-up, dismantled Bangladesh by dismissing three out of the top four batters as well.
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“On his recall, Reece Topley was magnificent with the new ball at the other end, bowling that bail-trimming length, and getting the ball to swing and bounce from his extra height. And it was exceptionally good captaincy from Buttler, a) giving Topley a couple of slips up front and b) keeping Woakes going when short of form and confidence,” Nasser Hussain concluded. “Hopefully this progression will be carried on against Afghanistan on Sunday and into games against nations after that. England’s ongoing selection dilemma has come down to a choice between the spin-bowling all-rounders Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone. On a big spinning pitch, which you could get against India in Lucknow in a fortnight, I would go with the better spinner which is Moeen.”
